For years, activated charcoal has been the default recommendation for anyone going through amalgam removal or heavy metal detox. It works, but it doesn't discriminate. It pulls out the good with the bad, leaving people dehydrated and depleted of the electrolytes their body actually needs. Dr. Katie's practice ran on activated charcoal for decades, until she found a cleaner way.

Episode overview:

In this episode, Dr. Katie sits down with Dr. Catharine Arnston, founder and CEO of Energybits, to talk about the real story behind spirulina and chlorella and why they've become part of Dr. Katie's safe mercury removal protocol. Dr. Catharine's path into algae started 17 years ago when her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and told to eat an alkaline diet with no real guidance on what that meant. Her research led her to spirulina and chlorella, two of the most studied and nutrient-dense foods on earth, and she's spent the years since building a company around sourcing them the right way.

What you will learn:

• Why chlorella pulls out heavy metals, glyphosate, and mold without stripping the minerals activated charcoal takes with it
• How algae farming actually works, and why where and how it's dried changes everything about its nutritional value
• The specific protocol Dr. Katie's practice uses before and after amalgam removal, and why timing it around sleep matters

Key themes:

• Real food versus supplements, and why bioavailability changes the entire conversation
• What clean sourcing actually looks like when a product absorbs everything in the water it grows in
• Detox support that goes beyond the mouth, including gut health, sleep, and energy

Dr. Katie's perspective:

We used activated charcoal in this practice for years because it was the only trusted option we had. But watching patients get dehydrated from something that was supposed to be helping them never sat right. Once we found a source of chlorella clean enough to actually trust, the shift was immediate. This is the kind of thing I want every biological dentist to know exists, because our patients deserve better than a workaround.

Links:

• energybits.com
• Watch for Dr. Catharine Arnston's upcoming book, Love Your Health to Bits (October 2026, Amazon and Audible)
• IG 📱  @energybits

Guest bio:

Dr. Catharine Arnston is the founder and CEO of Energybits, a company built around medical-grade spirulina and chlorella grown and dried without high heat to preserve their nutrient profile. She started the company 17 years ago after researching alkaline nutrition for her sister during breast cancer treatment, and has since worked with physicians, cardiologists, and biological dentists to bring algae-based detox protocols into clinical practice.

For Dentists
If you're building or renovating a practice with a wellness-first patient experience in mind, this conversation gives you a real framework for getting the workflow and sensory design right from the start. Explore CORE membership to build the full system around it: wellnessdentistinstitute.com/core-membership

For Patients
Curious what a truly whole-body dental experience feels like, not just looks like? Join Dr. Katie's free webinar: https://go.drkatieto.center/register

Connect with Dr. Katie:
🌐 thewellnessdentist.com
📱 @drkatieto

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner.  Before using any products mentioned or attempting methods discussed, please speak with a licensed healthcare provider.  This podcast disclaims responsibility from any possible adverse reactions associated with products or methods discussed.    Opinions from guests are their own, and this podcast does not condone or endorse opinions made by guests.  We do not provide guarantees about the guests' qualifications or credibility. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.